Karaca-Sucu göçmenler i̇çin psiko-sosyal uyum ölçeği

Abstract

The topic of adaptation is one of the important subjects in both social psychology and sociology. Emigration is one of the factors that profoundly influence the phenomenon of psycho-social adaptation, which is affected by numerous factors in settled cultures. Although there are a few functional scales on adaptation in the literature, the scales that can be used specifically with emigrants are almost nonexistent. Difficulty in reaching emigrants, language proficiency and the fact that emigrants are not easily persuaded to participate in empirical research are the primary reasons for the limited number of scales that can be used in studies with individuals who have experienced emigration. In this study, the psychometric properties of the scale developed to measure the adaptation level of adaptation of emigrants living in a different culture for a relatively long period to their new environment are presented. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 600 Afghan (Uzbek) emigrants residing in various provinces of Turkey, using a draft form consisting of 40 items prepared during the scale development process. Participants were selected from Afghan (Uzbek) emigrants over the age of 15 who have been living in Turkey for at least five years. To determine the construct validity of the scale, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted with 320 participants, and as a result of the analysis, a five-dimensional structure consisting of 25 items was obtained. The dimensions were named as follows, "behavioural- subcultural preservation," "sense of belonging," "integration with local people," "emotional satisfaction," and "relationships with authority". To confirm the structure formed as a result of the exploratory factor analysis, an application was carried out with a second emigrant group of 250 participants and the results of the confirmatory factor analysis applied to the data obtained were found to support the five-factor structure of the scale to a great extent. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, indicating the reliability of the scale, was calculated as alpha=.76. When the psychometric data produced about the scale are collectively evaluated, it is concluded that the developed scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used in studies with emigrants who have experienced emigration.